Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has announced when it will introduce its new super streamer, which will replace HBO Max and Discovery Plus this year.
In a press release, WBD confirmed that it will host an online event on Wednesday, April 12 to reveal its new streaming platform, which will be called Max. The webcast, which is open to the press and the general public, will begin at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (Australian viewers can tune in at 3am AEST on Thursday, April 13). .
In response to TechRadar's question about whether this event will showcase WBD's new streaming product to audiences around the world, a WBD spokesperson simply replied, "Yes." Expect an official name, a potential release date, pricing plans, its impact on HBO/HBO Max's dealings with the UK and other global streamers (more on that later), and more. Other topics to be discussed during the webcast, then.
We know that a WBD superstreamer has been in the cards since WarnerMedia and Discovery merged in April 2022. Four months after the entertainment companies joined forces, we reported that HBO Max and Discovery Plus would form a new superstreamer sometime in 2023. Since then, the days of the two streaming platforms seem numbered.
However, back in February, it was revealed that HBO Max and Discovery Plus would not be fully merging after all. Instead, Discovery Plus will continue to be offered as an all-in-one streaming service for users in the US who do not wish to subscribe to WBD's new superstreamer. According to the Wall Street Journal(opens in a new tab), WBD fears losing a large chunk of its Discovery Plus user base if it forces consumers to sign up for its combined platform, hence the small change of heart.
It's unclear if HBO Max's vast library of movies and TV shows will migrate to WBD's new streaming service when it launches. We'll likely get more information on April 12, but for now, the best HBO Max shows and the best HBO Max movies are still available on this service, as long as you have an HBO Max account.
We look forward to finding out when the super streamer will launch in the US, and potentially other territories such as Latin America and parts of Europe during the event as well. During WBD's Q2022 2023 earnings call (opens in a new tab), executive JB Perrette suggested it could launch in the US in summer 2024. The service would then be rolled out elsewhere in the world, where HBO Max is available, yes, in XNUMX.
Analysis: answer to a big question, but there are many more
After months of speculation, we finally learned when WBD will officially introduce its new streaming service. While these big questions have been answered, there are many more that still need to be answered.
In addition to the aforementioned concerns about HBO Max content, when and where the service will roll out, and how much it will cost, there are questions about how this super streamer will affect any deals WBD has with other streaming services around the world.
For one, there's the question of how this could affect HBO Originals airing on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Popular TV shows like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and Euphoria are broadcast exclusively on Sky Atlantic on UK shores, thanks to a four-year licensing deal between HBO and Sky that allows the latter to broadcast these series. (and many more) in the UK.
That deal expires this year, but Sky and HBO are expected to renew it. However, WBD's new superstreamer could theoretically affect any contract renewals (the aforementioned shows are available on HBO and HBO Max in the US), especially if your new streaming platform is airing The Last of Us and its society in American homes. For example, will Sky be asked to pay more for the privilege of airing these shows on Sky Atlantic?
Then there's the HBO Max add-on feature that Hulu users can integrate into their subscription plan. Currently, Hulu subscribers can add HBO Max as an additional channel (for an additional monthly fee) to their plan, which means they get access to the streamer's suite of content, plus the best Hulu shows and the best Hulu movies. hulu. Will this offer be extended for WBD's new super streamer? Or, with the escalating streaming wars, will WBD prevent Hulu, one of Disney's streaming platforms, Disney Plus being the other, from offering WBD's super streamer as an add-on option for Hulu customers?
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, we don't know if WBD's new streaming plan will help it close the gap with Netflix, aka the best streaming service in the world. Currently, Netflix is the most popular streamer, with around 231 million subscribers to its name. By contrast, the combined user base of HBO Max and Discovery Plus sits at a less impressive 96,1 million. By comparison, Disney Plus is the second most popular service, with 161,8 million users, despite the fact that Disney Plus suffered its first loss of subscribers in the first quarter of 2023.
So WBD is hoping that its mega streaming service, with its huge catalog and potentially competitive pricing, will give it a boost in the battle against its rivals. However, as of April 12, we don't know anything about WBD's super streamer, and how much the entertainment giant wants to win the streaming war.
For more HBO Max-based coverage, check out all the new HBO Max movies debuting on the service since December 2022. You can also see if there's an HBO Max free trial in your area of the world before WBD introduces its new streaming platform
Today's best HBO Max and Discovery Plus deals
(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)